Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday, August 5, threw shade on Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria after he skipped the DP's Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting.
Speaking at Ruto's Karen residence, Garissa MP Aden Duale had initially declined to comment on the question posed by a journalist who had asked about the ongoing wrangles between the People's Empowerment Party (PEP) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The journalist posed as to whether Kuria, who is perceived as PEP de-factor Party Leader, had skipped the PG because of internal differences over control of the vote-rich Mount Kenya region.
"The members sitting behind me are members of UDA. We are in Jubilee normally but the current and the future party is UDA, so any other party we will not discuss other parties," he stated.
However, as Duale awaited the next question, Ruto whispered to Duale and the conversation was picked by a hot mic and verified by the Kenyans.co.ke team.
"Tell them that the only PEP MP who belongs to the hustler nation (George) Koimburi is here," Ruto could be heard through the hot mic as the camera drifted to the two politicians.
"Just before you ask, on PEP, the only member of PEP who is a hustler from the hustler nation is here and is part of our PG meeting," Duale referenced the question which he had initially dismissed.
Efforts by Kenyans.co.ke to reach Kuria for comment were futile as he did not respond to our calls or texts.
The discomfort between PEP and Ruto's UDA has been ongoing with the majority questioning the lawmaker's loyalty to the party.
This saw a back and forth with both parties fielding candidates in various by-elections which caused wrangles amongst them. The Gatundu South MP sponsored Koimburi through his PEP and won the Juja by-elections by a landslide.
Kuria however, withdrew his candidate from the Kiambaa by-elections to support UDA's John Wanjiku.
The question on loyalty was also addressed by Jubilee vice-chairman David Murathe who alleged that Kuria's heart was with the team associated with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"Kuria talks with them during the day and then comes to us at night, even yesterday he kept pleading with me," Murathe stated during a meeting in Murang'a County on Wednesday, August 4.
The Gatundu South MP, in apparent defiance, recently asked Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata to inform Ruto that the Mt Kenya region was willing to support his presidency but on condition that they are allowed to organise themselves in their own party.
